Saint Mary's beacon. [volume] (Leonard Town, Md.) 1867-1983, 1887-02-03
THE CATS EYE.
From tie Sunday Herald.

1t was noon-an hour of deadly
burning heat in the sultry cline o
India, and the glowing sun fecked
the blue enamel of the sky with
streaks Of blazing light. In sort o.
sleeping pavilion made of mats or bul.
rushes stretched on thick bamboo.
driven deeply into the ground, might
be seen the form of a young>English
officer buried in sleep so deep and
profound as almost to resemble death
Although heavy cares oppressed the
young Englishman-the success of a
secret and dangerous mission which
might make his fortune or end his
life-his slumber was deep and peace.
full, while his attendants, numerous to
European eyes, were buried in the
same repose.
Suddenly slight movement among
the creepers, as though some animal
crept stealthily along, might have
been observed by a watchfu! eye, and
then all was still! as death. At length
human head appeared beside the
trunk of dead tree-a fearful face,
greenish bronze in color, with eyes
deeply set and sparkling like a ser
pent's, and long black hair twisted
round it. He approached the favor
ite Hindoo servant of the officer,
whose regular, handsome features
looked as severe and placidly beauti-
ful i'll sleep as carved statue. A
scornlul laugh curling the corners Of
his mouth drew them up toward his
cheekbones, displaying two rows Of
teeth flied triangulArly like saw and
dyed a lustrous black. Drawing a
small vial of transparent liquid from
his belt, the Malay dropped a few
drops between the parted lips; then
cautiously winding his way through
the grass, he approached two other
attendants. aud repeated the p,o-
cess.
As the sun sank, and the coolness
of the evening came on, the officer
awoke. He looked out at his gnard
OF SePoys. who over fire were cook
ing their meal of rice in the distance.
and wondered at the strange s:illness
of kalma-his own confidential SER
yant-when he called him with no
response. He rose hastily. rose only
to find his f4yor.te stiff in death, and
the other two servants In the same
condition. Struck with horror, while
vague terror crept over him at SO
mysterious and sudden q death, he
hastily summoned the Sepoys, whose
fears rendered them incapable OF any
act .T.a,;;ng off their tarhans, they
rolled on the grourd with frantic OUT
cries, when Captain Crau:'ntcn order
el instant burial of the bodies end
preparations for renewed march. The
dangers of the Journey were tenfoid
without Kalma, whose fidelity was
certain and whose knowledge of the
native tribes in the interior wss in
valuable. Succeeding after time in
rousing his guard, Captain Champion
mounted his horse and started from
the ill-omeued spot.
With an anxious mind he rode on,
revolving the singular death of his
three personsl attendants. and vainly
wondering if he could devise any new
place TO secrete the most important
pspers of which he was the bearer.
Suddenly, as he raised his riding whip
he remembered its singular construc-
tion-hollow and opening E:th q
spring-given him by a college friend
who had a rage for curiosities, and
ayailipg himself OF shadowy place
he slipped the two thin papers fEaE
an inner pocket Of his coat, transfer
ring them 10 tbs whip handle, ROLLED
into the smallest compass. Seyera
hours passed as they rode on in 81
lsnce, when q sudden. shrill cry, lik,
birds pote. echoed mOurnfully owe